Blood & Bone Read online

  I was beginning to see the variety of advantages that came with having a vampire warlock as a friend.

  Chloe and I dressed quickly once the general plan was in place. I shot a look at Carter, concerned about his pale appearance. I worried he wouldn’t have the strength to continue.

  Finn must have shared my thoughts because he approached the wolf cautiously. “You’re too weak to fight in your current state.” When Carter bristled, he lifted a hand. “I’m offering to help you. I can heal most of your injuries if you’ll allow me.”

  “Will that affect your ability to cast the spell to hide us?” Carter asked, obviously surprising Finn with his knowledge.

  “Normally, yes, but Kerry is sharing her power with me. I will have plenty left if I heal you.”

  Carter eyed him for a prolonged moment before nodding. “I would appreciate your help then.”

  “I’ll need you to stand completely still for me until I’m done,” Finn directed. “And the deeper the injury, the more this will…sting.”

  “Great,” Carter exhaled. I knew that many of his internal injuries were already better, but they weren’t fully healed.

  “Maybe he should sit down,” I suggested to Finn.

  Carter didn’t even argue. He moved to the couch and lowered himself onto it, leaning back against the cushions. I moved to stand behind him in case he tried to move or stop Finn when the pain intensified. Finn nodded in approval of my position and knelt in front of Carter. Using both hands and starting at Carter’s ankles, Finn seemed to stroke the air around the wolf.

  A pale glow spilled from Finn’s palms and echoing light appeared on different areas of Carter’s body. Finn’s eyebrows lifted as he took in the size and number of pulsing lights. I realized I was looking at Carter’s wounds, both internal and external, and I couldn’t believe the wolf was still standing, much less preparing to go into battle.

  As Finn moved his palms to cover two areas, he closed his eyes. Carter sucked in a deep breath, his hands fisting at his sides, but he didn’t move. He didn’t even make a sound.

  Until Finn reached the largest area on his abdomen. It was the place where I’d seen the deep bruising and known Carter had internal bleeding. When the light brightened, I squinted.

  Carter grunted, his shoulders jerking, but the rest of his body remained completely still. I could hear his teeth grinding together as he endured the pain, but he never moved again.

  When it was finally over, Carter relaxed against the back of the couch, breathing hard.

  “I don’t know if you’re a fool or the most valiant wolf I’ve ever met,” Finn muttered, staring at Carter with glowing purple eyes.

  “I’d go with the first one,” Carter panted, squeezing his eyes shut as the residual pain wracked his body. However, his color was much better, his cheeks no longer white and the fine lines around his eyes vanishing.

  “Me too,” I agreed.

  One of his eyes popped open. “Oh, hey there. You gonna kiss my booboos better?”

  “He’s definitely healed if he’s hitting on me,” I stated, rolling my eyes. “Be careful, Carter, or I’ll ask Sophia to do it.”

  His eyes shot to the she-wolf, who bared her teeth. “Uh, I appreciate that, but I’m feeling much better now.”

  Chloe came forward with a bottle of water. “Drink this. We need to get on the road.”

  Carter’s eyes moved to Finn. “Thank you,” he said quietly.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Carter drained the water bottle and got to his feet, rolling his shoulders and straightening his spine as if to test his muscles.

  Then he smiled, but it was thin and vicious.

  “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chloe

  The town was unusually quiet as we approached. Though there were a few hundred residents, there were no cars on the streets and no lights on inside the homes. It was as if the town was sleeping.

  Or dead.

  I shook off the unsettling thoughts. No one was dead yet. We’d been watching via Carter’s laptop. They were waiting for us, but I doubted they realized exactly what they were up against. If they had, it wouldn’t just be Darrell, his two remaining deputies, and the Kirkpatricks.

  Though we outnumbered them, they were all armed with guns and knives. It sickened me that they were too cowardly to face us with fangs and fists, as was custom in shifter communities. They knew they weren’t strong enough to win without them and counted on firepower to replace strength, speed, and skill.

  I couldn’t see the others or even smell them, but I knew they were there. Finn’s spell worked better than any of us had thought it would.

  We crept through the streets, moving silently. Finn explained that the spell would be impossible to hold once we attacked as all his focus would need to be on fighting, but it gave us the advantage of surprise.

  As we approached the police department, I could hear the shifters talking amongst themselves. The prisoners were scared but trying to keep their children calm. Darrell and the rest were discussing what our possible strategy might be and how to defend against it.

  When we reached the rear of the building, I took the key Carter had given me out of my pocket. Finn was up front, holding the spell. He would have to release it when he set off the distraction he had planned. I doubted they would go outside to investigate, but it would at least serve as a chance for us to sneak in the back without gaining their attention.

  Carter had checked the roof and the hatch he used the night before was chained shut. He’d merely shaken his head and gone to a house a few streets over. He’d returned with a “borrowed” set of bolt cutters and climbed back up, Nicholas on his heels. Carter insisted that Darrell would go straight for the hostages if he thought he wouldn’t be able to escape, and he wouldn’t let his father kill any more innocent wolves.

  I took a deep breath and waited for the signal. Finn assured us all earlier that he had something special planned. As we stood still, waiting, Lachlan was tense beside me, his body vibrating with ferocity. Even as we faced danger and possibly death, he was more alive than he had been for two years. Whether he wanted it or not, the events in this town had brought him completely back into the land of the living.

  Silently, I fit the key into the lock, not turning it, but ready. A loud explosion rocked the building, coming from the parking lot to the side. I twisted the key and cracked the door to peek through. There was no one in the back room.

  Lachlan shoved the door open, rushing in before me with Finn right on his heels. I could hear shouting from the front of the building and the screams and sobs of the families in the holding cells.

  I followed Lach and Finn down the hall, moving quickly. We didn’t want to get caught here when they realized we were coming. It would be too easy to shoot down the hall and take us all out.

  Lach crouched at the mouth of the hall, his eyes toward the front. Finn moved to the other side of the doorway and peered through as well. When Lach motioned us forward, we stayed low and crept through the file room.

  I nearly laughed when I looked out and saw all the wolves standing near the front windows. They’d made themselves perfect targets.

  Except for Darrell.

  He edged back, toward the room where we waited. He might not be strong enough to take be a true alpha, but he was cunning. Darrell knew that the fireball that had enveloped his car was just a distraction.

  We stayed out of sight as he backed up a few more steps before turning and heading straight for the file room where we waited. As soon as he stepped through the door, Finn was on him.

  I watched in surprise as the vampire’s eyes glowed a brilliant purple. Darrell slumped in his grasp, unconscious. Without a word, Finn dragged him to the door at the rear of the room. When he opened it, I saw cleaning supplies. After he stuffed Darrel inside, Finn shut the door and waved his hand over the knob. I knew without asking that he’d locked the door to anyone but himself.

  La
ch shifted beside me and I looked out toward the front room again. My mouth dropped open when I realized that Darrell’s two remaining officers were exiting the front door, their guns drawn. Brian and Brayden Kirkpatrick clutched their own weapons, two shotguns.

  I wondered if it truly was going to be that easy, shaking my head at their stupidity.

  As soon as the thought crossed my mind, all hell broke loose. I heard the gunfire exploding outside as Calder, Mason, my grandmother, and her men, Paul and Greg attacked. Brian Kirkpatrick turned, heading straight for us.

  Unfortunately, Lach didn’t move out of sight quickly enough and Brian raised his shotgun and fired. The pellets hit Lach, blood spreading on his shoulder and chest. Then Brian turned, fired a shot out a side window, and dove through.

  I glanced up front, but Brayden’s attention was riveted to the window his father disappeared through. I leapt to Lachlan’s side, ripping his shirt open to examine his injuries. My pounding heart slowed a little when I realized he’d only been hit by a few pellets.

  “Thank God,” I whispered under my breath.

  I looked back to see Finn brushing pellets off his shirt as well. A few had entered his skin, leaving dots of blood behind, but it appeared as if the rest had been halted by an invisible shield around his torso.

  “He okay?” Finn mouthed.

  I nodded.

  The sound of crunching glass brought my attention to the front of the department again, just in time to see Brayden Kirkpatrick disappear out of the same window his father had used.

  “Like hell,” I murmured.

  The sound of gunshots outside stopped abruptly and I knew that Darrell’s two officers were down. Without hesitation, I jumped to my feet and sprinted after the Kirkpatricks.

  I heard Lachlan call my name but ignored it. I would not let either of the Kirkpatricks get away with what they had done. Not only had Brayden tried to force me to mate him, but, for reasons I still didn’t understand, they’d arranged for the death of my parents. I wanted to know why. Then I fully intended to kill them both.

  I paused at the edge of the parking lot, inhaling deeply. Brayden’s scent was the strongest so I followed his trail. Wherever he went, his father would only be a few steps ahead.

  As I followed the scent, I cursed the fact that it was broad daylight outside and we were in town. I felt exposed as I darted down the street, my eyes moving from side to side.

  The trail disappeared into a copse of trees on the edge of the city limits. I glanced back for a moment but didn’t see anyone behind me. I hesitated. I knew I should wait for the others. It was the smart thing to do.

  Then I remembered the horrible pain of Brayden’s bite, the way he’d touched my body as if he had every right, and I knew I wouldn’t wait. I couldn’t.

  Sniffing the air one last time, I followed the trail Brayden left behind.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Lachlan

  I groaned when Chloe ripped my shirt open, tiny points of fire prickling along my shoulder and chest. I saw the relief in her eyes when she realized I wasn’t gravely injured.

  Then, before I could stop her, she was gone.

  “Chloe! Chloe, wait! Fuck, Finn, grab her!” I yelled. “Don’t let her go alone!”

  He was too late. She’d climbed out of the same window as the Kirkpatricks and she was gone.

  I hauled myself to my feet, Finn appearing beside me.

  “I’m sorry, Lachlan,” he apologized. “I couldn’t reach her in time.”

  “Goddammit, I hate getting shot,” I gritted out through clenched teeth. “It hurts like fuck.”

  Finn studied my injuries for a moment. “You’ve got a bleeder there,” he said finally. His hand moved over my shoulder and I could almost feel the energy focusing on the point where one pellet had entered my body. I grunted as it popped out of the hole. It hit the ground with a ping and rolled away.

  Then I felt the heat and clenched my jaw against the pain. A few moments later it subsided. Finn waved his hand over my flesh again and I flinched as the rest of the pellets slid from my skin, the sound of them hitting the ground like rain.

  “I can’t heal the rest of your wounds,” Finn stated apologetically. “There are others who need me more and I don’t want to take too much power from Kerry.”

  I nodded. “I appreciate it. Tell the others I’m going after Chloe. Calder should be able to track me.”

  Finn nodded and I felt his eyes watching me as I launched myself through the window and immediately found Chloe’s trail. I traced her steps through town and paused at the edge of the trees. I sniffed the air, and then crouched in order to get my nose closer to the ground. I smelled a combination of scents. Chloe, Brayden, and Brian.

  My mate was out there alone with two armed wolves. I growled low in my throat and followed. The Kirkpatricks had hurt her enough. I wouldn’t allow them to do it again.

  I tracked them through the woods, stopping to listen or examine a footprint.

  The only warning I got of his presence was the sound of a shotgun ratcheting. I barely had time to ascertain where the sound originated before the first shot went off. I managed to dive behind a tree trunk. I could hear the pellets as they hit the trees and brush around me.

  I heard the pump again and lunged behind another tree, this one larger than the last. He shot at me as I moved, but he missed again.

  That was two shots. I wondered if he had reloaded after he ran from the police department. Even if he had, it was likely he only had three left. Maybe four if the gun held six shells.

  Either way, I didn’t intend to get shot again. Once a decade was enough for me. There was another pump of the shotgun and I could hear him shifting around, trying to find a better position, but he was downwind of me and I couldn’t get a lock on his scent.

  Swearing silently, I glanced around the edge of the trunk. Pellets splintered the bark near my shoulder.

  “Fuck,” I hissed as pieces of bark and splintered wood rained down on me.

  There was another pump, then silence. The nearest tree was nearly ten feet away, and though I had shifter speed, so did Brian Kirkpatrick. Leaves rustled and I could hear him suck in a quick breath. He was moving again.

  I needed to distract him, throw him off until he ran out of shells. There was no chance I could work my way to him without getting hit otherwise. The trees were too far apart, letting the sunlight pierce the canopy. I wouldn’t be able to hide my movements. My only choice was to divert his attention and get him to take shots at me until he was out of shells.

  “You do realize you’re going to die today, right?” I asked him, keeping my tone conversational. “Even if I don’t kill you, one of the other wolves will.”

  “If they can find me before I get to Houston. Not even Sophia MacArthur would trespass on my pack territory.”

  I snorted. “Wouldn’t she? You arranged to have her son killed and helped Darrell kidnap Chloe for Brayden. I think she’d rain hellfire down on your pack, consequences from the Tribunal be damned.”

  He was silent and I knew he was mulling over my words. He knew they were true. I leapt behind another tree, but no shot followed. He was off balance and this was my chance.

  From my new vantage point, I could barely see the side of his face. He was still looking toward the tree where I’d been, unaware that I’d moved. The wind shifted, carrying my scent away from him, and I smiled.

  Moving noiselessly through the trees and underbrush, I crept closer.

  “I still can’t let you live, Lachlan,” he called. “Otherwise I won’t have any chance of surviving myself.”

  I was only a few feet from him now, praying that the wind wouldn’t change again and give away my position. He lifted the shotgun, still aiming toward the tree where I’d been hiding moments ago.

  “If you come out now, I’ll make it quick and as painless as possible.”

  Before he could react I was on him, my hand coming down on the barrel of the shotgun. The gun went o
ff, but it was too late. I had him in my grasp. Jerking the weapon out of his hand, I hit him with my right fist, using every bit of my strength.

  He sprawled on the ground, his eyes glassy and unfocused.

  “I can’t promise you the same,” I said. Then I brought the butt of the shotgun down on his temple.

  I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and turned it on, noting that Calder had called several times. I tapped the screen, calling his number.

  “Where are you?” he demanded.

  “In the woods, southwest of town. About a half-mile in.”

  “Were those shots you?”

  “Yeah. I’ve got Brian here and he’s unconscious. I need one of you to get here quickly. I have to go after Chloe.”

  “I’m on my way,” Calder replied. I could hear the sound of his running feet through the phone. “I’ll be there in less than five minutes.”

  I glanced down at Brian Kirkpatrick. I couldn’t wait. If he woke up and managed to escape before Calder got here, then I would just track him down again. Right now, my priority was Chloe.

  “I can’t wait for you. You’ll pick up my trail on Hedgecoxe Drive. Follow it and you’ll find Brian.”

  “Lachlan, wait—”

  “Chloe’s on her own and going after Brayden, Calder. I will not let my mate die again.”

  “Mate?”

  I growled. “I don’t have time for this. I’m shutting off my phone.”

  Without waiting for a response, I disconnected and turned off my phone. I did take the time to secure Brian’s wrists together behind his back with the twist ties Carter had given me. Then I bent his legs, using several more ties to attach the bands around his ankles to those on his wrists. I didn’t want to waste precious time, but I also wanted to make sure that it wouldn’t be easy for the wolf to sneak up behind me as I tracked Brayden and Chloe.

  With that done, I walked back to the place where I’d last scented Chloe.